Irish fly-half Paul Burke was Harlequin's hero with a personal tally of 28
points to ease his team to a convincing Zurich Premiership win over fellow
Londoners Saracens at The Stoop.
The 28-year-old answered director of rugby John Kingston's call for victory in
this must-win derby.
Quins ran in four tries to earn a vital bonus point, despite being without the
services of internationals Jason Leonard, Will Greenwood, Dan Luger and Keith
Wood.
Burke was on form right from the word go, keeping the home side in touch after
two early penalties from the consistent boot of Sarries' South African Luke
Smith.
Forward Tu Tamarua then built on Quins' six points with the first try of the
night.
Scrum-half Matt Powell made vital space up field to switch the ball to the
right wing with the help of Burke, and Saracens were penalised for holding on in
the ruck to concede a line-out dangerously close to their goal line.
Garrick Morgan took the ball cleanly for Tamarua, and Burke converted before
adding three further penalties before the second try.
This time it was the turn of the winger Matt Moore, who was put away on the
right wing by Mark Mapletoft. Again Burke converted to give Quins a 29-6 lead
after 51 minutes.
Burke then added his own converted try after he pounced on a Moore pass to
charge 20 metres up field and score under the posts.
Prop Adrian Olver put the icing on the cake with the fourth try.
Teams:
Harlequins: Mapletoft, Moore, Burrows, Bell, Gollings, Burke, J. Powell, Starr, Tiatia, Olver, Morgan, Davison, White-Cooper, Tamarua, Winters.
Replacements: Bemand for J. Powell (62),
Douglas for Starr (70), Diprose for Morgan (52),
Codling for Davison (52), Fuga for Tamarua (70).
Not Used: Jewell, O'Neill.
Tries: Tamarua, Moore, Burke, Olver.
Cons: Burke 4.
Pens: Burke 5.
Saracens: Winnan, Haughton, Shanklin, Sorrell, O'Mahony, Smith, Walshe, Flatman, Cairns, Phillips, A. Benazzi, Roche, Cheesebrough, Roques, Cole.
Replacements: Sparg for Winnan (52), Arasa for Shanklin (63), Hooper for A. Benazzi (41), K. Benazzi for Cheesebrough (52).
Not Used: Harbut, Parkes, Hampson.
Pens: Smith 2.
Sin Bin: Sorrell (25).
Att: 6,450
Ref: Alain Rolland (Ireland).
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